Final Exam Flashcards
What are the functions of the nervous system?
Sensory input, Integration, Output
T/F Afferent nerves conduct motor signals away from CNS.
F; conduct sensory signals towards CNS
What are efferent nerves?
motor and effector neurons that conduct signals away from CNS
What are the two parts of the nervous system and what are they composed of?
CNS-> Brain and spinal cord, dorsal body cavity surrounded by meninges
PNS -> Spinal nerves, cranial nerves, and sensory receptors
what are the supporting cells of the CNS?
Astrocytes -> involved in forming blood-brain barrier
oligodendrocytes -> myelination
Ependymal cells-> line ventricles, create current for CSF
Microglia-> Macrophages
What are the supporting cells of the PNS?
Satellite cells
Schwann cells
Label the parts of an action potential, include ion movement patterns at stages of AP
Stimulus, Depolarization, Repolarization, Hyperpolarization
absolute refractory period, relative refractory period
Where are ttracts found?
CNS
What are some functions of myelin?
protection, electrical insulation, increase speed of nerve impulse transmission
How does Novocain work?
binds to VG sodium channels to inhibit AP, message of pain can’t be sent. Given as shot to induce local anesthesia
What is propagation?
The movement of electrical signals down an axon
What factors impact the speed of propagation?
Capacitance of membrane
diameter of axon
resistance to electrical flow
T/F Myelination decreases capacitance and makes propagation faster.
T
Will a larger axon or smaller axon exhibit faster propagation?
Larger
What is the difference between saltatory and continuous conduction?
Saltatory is faster, electrical impulses travel under myelin sheath, action potentials generated at nodes of ranvier. sodium channels only open in nodes of ranvier
continuous is in unmyelinated and you need more action potentials to travel across whole axon
List the types of nerve fibers
Group A -> Large and heavily myelinated -> motor neurons, 150 m/s
Group B -> intermediate diameter and lightly myelinated, 15 m/s, preganglionic autonomic fibers
Group C -> smallest diameters and unmyelinated, 1 m/s, postganglionic autonomic fibers
Describe how saxitoxin and anatoxin work.
Saxitoxin -> paralytic shellfish poisoning, toxin binds to VG sodium channels and prevents them from opening, when digested and travel through body elicits toxic effects occur
Anatoxin -> irreversibly binds to ACh receptors and muscles constantly contract, involuntary contraction leads to paralysis when we run out of ATP and calcium
Is the onset of rigor mortis sooner with saxitoxin or anatoxin?
anatoxin is sooner onset since the stored calcium is used at a higher rate. saxitoxin is same onset as natural causes since the calcium reserve isn’t used
Where is regeneration possible?
Axons of the PNS
Why is regeneration only possible in the PNS? (3 reasoons)
- No Schwann cells in the CNS, Schwann cells/neurilemma form a regeneration tube to guide the growth of new axons
- Microglia in the CNS are not as effective at debridement as immune cells in PNS
- oligodendrocytes and astrocytes release growth-inhibiting proteins
Describe the regeneration process.
- Injury to the axon, know that damage continues distally down the axon (nutrients from cell body can’t deliver thru damage)
- macrophages clean out the dead axon distal to injury
- axon sprouts grow through a regeneration tube
- axon regenerates and a new myelin sheath forms
How fast does regenereation occur?
1.5 mm a day
What are the protective structures of the spinal cord?
vertebral column, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid
Name the three layers of the meninges
dura mater (strongest, two layers of fibrous connective tissue
arachnoid mater (middle layer, weblike extensions)
pia mater( delicate, vascularized connective tissue that clings tightly to brain)